Kavyanushasana Part 2

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Rasiklal C Parikh, Ramchandra B Athvale
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 54

Introduction
Xxxili The last Bactrian - Greek ruler that we know of was Apolodotus whose coins have the legend in BactroPali characters : ' Mahārājasa Tradatasa Apaladatasa.' After Apollodotus, to the end of the first century A. D.. there is a blank in our knowledge of the history of Gujarāt.
On the strength of the information derived from a great number of coins mainly discovered and interpreted by Dr. Bhagawanlal Indraji, a few inscriptions, and references from foreign writers, we are again able to construct the history of Gujarāta for three centuries and more. This is the period known as the Kshatrapa period. The coins and inscriptions are now proved to have been dated in the era which starts from the beginning of Kanishka's reign in 78 A. D. As Prof. Rapson says these coins and inscriptions "range from the year 41 to the year 310 (119-388 A. D.) and form the most continuous and complete chronological series found on the monuments of ancient India. It was in consequence of its long use by the Saka princes of Western India that the era became generally known in India as the Şaka era..." (C. H. I. Vol. I p. 585.).
Amongst the Kshatrapas, we have to distinguish between two dynasties – the Kshaharātas and the line of Chashtana. The word Kshatrapa appears under three forms Chhatrapa, * Chhatrava and Khatapa, while Kshaharāta appears under the form Chhaharata in Prākṣta legends on the coins. Acording to Mr. Jackson
May not the title Chhatrapati be a sanskritization of this word ?